Cooling system for internal-combustion engines



1,634,844 u y 1927- w. w. MUlR COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. 15. 1922 Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES WELLINGTON W. MUIR, OF LOCKPORT, NEW YORK.

,COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed February 15, 1922. Serial No. 536,824.

This invention relates to cooling systems for internal combustion engines and has for its object to improve the construction as well as the operation and efliciency of the systems 6 heretofore proposed.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel steps and combination of steps constituting the process. and in the novel parts and combinations of parts constituting the apparatus, all as will be more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which the figure is a diagrammatic partially sectional view of an internal combustion engine equipped with this invention, 1 indicates the engine jacket, 2 the normal liquid level in said jacket, 3 a pipe adapted to convey vapor, a mixture of vapor and liquid, or

liquid only into the top 4, of a condenser 5.

That is, as will appear more fully below,

the space above said level 2 is so restricted that vapor will pass into the condenser 5, at low speeds, a mixture of vapor and liquid at higher speeds, and liquid alone when the loads or speeds still further increase. 6

represents a liquid tank or receptacle below said condenser in which the liquid is normally maintained at about the level 7 as shown. 8 indicates a pump adapted to draw liquid from tank 6 through the connection 9, and to force it through the connection 10 through the gooscncck 11 and down to the end 12 of the same. terminating near the bottom of the jacket 1, so as to insure an eflicient circulation throughout the jacket space. Said gooseueck 11 is provided with an orifice 13 to prevent the liquid from siphoning back to the pump 8.

14 represents a filling opening which provents the jacket 1 from being filled higher than the level 2 of the liquid. and 15 represents a sight glass or other liquid level indicator, all as will be readily understood. 17 represents a means for closing off the bottom portion of the condenser 5 from the tank 6, and 18 indicates a pipe extending from the diaphragm or partition 17 down beneath the level 7 of the liquid in the tank 6 so that should there be any alcoholic or other vapor brought over, through the condenser, it will be forced down into the water of tank 6 and thus caught and-preserved to the system.

19 represents a pipe leading from the tank 6 into the space 20 above the diaphragm or partition 21 closing off the top of the radiator, and 22 indicates a vent pipe from the space 20 leading to and discharging in the region of the pump 8 as at 23. 24 indicates a. check valve or blowoif valve which will relieve any undue pressure that is accumulated in the condenser 5.

It will now be clear that in operating this system the cooling fluid is evaporated at the level 2, the vapor passes through the pipe 3 into the condenser 5, where it is condensed to the liquid form, and collects in the tank 6, the level of which tank is maintained at or above the point 7 which is suflicient to permit liquid to normally flow through the connection 9 into the pump 8, and thus keep the pump normally primed. The pump being started it draws liquid from said tank 6, and forces it through the pipe 10, the

gooseneck 11 back into the jacket at or near the bottom thereof from the end 12 of said gooseneck. The orifice 13 located near the bend of the gooseneck prevents the liquid from siphoning back into the pump when the engine is not running. Should the engme increase its speed or should the load thereon increase. the space above the level 2 is so restricted that more or less of the liquid will pass with the vapor through the pipe 3 into the condenser 5, and said liquid will collect in the bottom of the condenser or in the tank 6.

It therefore follows that as the jacket needs an increased supply of cooling fluid the pump will force a proportionate increase of fluid therein. Again, should the speed of the engine or its load still further increase. the space above the level 2 being greatly restricted, as above intimated, the pipe 3 may conduct a solid column of liquid into the condenser and the pump 8 will in that case, supply to the jacket 1, a still larger quantity of fluid, and thus act as a liquid circulating pump pure and simple.

It will thus be seen that the apparatus disclosed constitutes a means for providing a varied circulation of cooling fluid into the jacket, and with the use of a single pump only. This system is adapted to supply steam, or steam and water, or water alone to the condenser according to the load or speed of the engine and according to the needs of the system. This constitutes an important feature of the invention because the need of a circulation of fluid through the jacket, as is well known, increases in proportion to the speed or load of the engine, or to the heat that is generated in the engine, and therefore, the automatic regulation of the cooling action of the system, asis here presented, is of the greatest value in operating modern automobile engines.

In addition to this it will be observed that only one ump is necessary to operate this s stem, wiiile the prior systems, performing the same functions, required two pumps, one for the liquid being irculated, and one for the condensed vapor.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the fact that it may be filled while the engine is hot, and without incurring any danger of overtilling the acket. That is to say, the sight glass or 1nd1cator 15 shows at all times the level of the liquid in the jacket 1. The filler cap 14: prevents any overtillin ot' the jacket when the engine is not running, and the condenser cap 25 enables one to pour liquid into the condenser even when the en ine is running. Liquid thus poured into the condenser will collect in the tank 6, and will be drawn out of said tank by the puini '8 and forced into the jacket space. Alt iough the cap 25 is located above the level 2, yet, since the operator can observe said level 2 through the indicator 15, he can stop the filling of the jacket at any point desired even While the engine is running. The convenience ofbeing thus able to fill the acket at any time without running the risk of overfllling the same need not be commented upon, for it must be remembered that it is very diilicult indeed to till an internal combustion engine jacket when the engine is running, or even when the engine is hot, and if one were com pelled to Wait in each instance untilthe engine get cold, he would lose considerable time, and further, if he were employing an anti-freezing solution such as alcohol, that gave oil a volatile vapor, this loss of time mi ht often amount to three or four hours if fie Wished to save his alcohol.

In addition to this, as above intimated, the pipe 18 performs a very important function in this invention because it the cooling fluid in the jacket 1 is an antifreezing mixture containing say alcohol, after the engine stops there is suflicient heat left in said fluid to eva crate a very considerable proportion of saic alcohol. Now, if this alcohol vapor could pass on down through the condenser it would be lost unless it is caught in water. Therefore, the pipe 18 in the arrangement of parts disclosed, will carry this uncondensed alcoholic vapor down underneath the Water in the tank 6 and save the same. Again the pipe 19 serves an important function in that it carries any Water that may be splashed from the lower tank 6 up into the space 20 Where, if it is in the form of vapor or even in the form of Water, it will drain back through the condenser passages into tank 6. Still another important feature of this invention resides in the fact that should the car he left to stand, and the water in the tank 6 freeze thus locking the pipe 18, pressure would be generated in the system and would be relieved by the lifting of the valve 24. That is to say, if no such valve were provided the radiator would burst under the conditions mentioned. With the construction shown, however, after the vapor has esca ed past. the valve 24, any liquid. that mig it be forced into the radiator or condenser 5 would fill the s ace 20 and escape by way of the pipe 22. Xnother important feature of this invention resides in the fact that the level 7 of the water in the tank 6 cannot fall, and thus is the priming of the pump always assured. That is to say, the pump 8 cannot take liquid out of the tank 6, and reduce the level below that indicated at 7. On the other hand, should this level for any reason become too low to prime the pump then water would immediately collect in the tank 6 which would necessarily raise the level? therein. It thus happens that the level 7 of the water can rise but it cannot fall so long as there is suflicient water in the system, and there tore the pump is always primed.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the operation as Well as the'details of construction and the arrangement of parts without departing "from the spirit of the invention, and therefore I do not Wish to be limited to the above disclosure except as may he required by the claims.

hat I claim is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a jacket; filling means for providing said jacket with such a restricted vapor space that vapor will be passed out of said jacket at low engine temperatures, a mixed vapor and liquid at higher engine temperatures, and a liquid alone at the highest engine temperatures; means to circulatc a cooling fluid out of the top and into the bottom of said jacket, said means comprising, a condenser and a pump respectively extendingand located below said acket; a second filling means for said jacket disposed above said restricted space; and valveless means located in said steam space adapted to prevent the liquid from leaving said jacket when the engine stops.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a jacket; filling means for providing said jacket with such a restricted vapor space that a vapor will be passed out of said jacket at low engine temperatures, a mixed vapor and liquid at higher engine temperatures, and a liquid alone at the highest engine temperatures; means to circulate a cooling fluid out of the top and into the bottom of said jacket, said means therein.

3. In a cooling system for internal combustlon engines, the comblnation of a acket;

lilling means for providing said jacket with such a restricted vapor space that a vapor will be passed out of said jacket at low engine temperatures, a mixed vapor and liquid at higher engine temperatures, and a liquid alone at the highest engine temperatures; a condenser joined to said space, and provided with a tank adapted to normally retain liquid therein; a second. filling means for said jacket disposed above said restricted space; means in said tank adapted to deliver any uncondensed vapors entering the same beneath the level of said liquid; and means for forcing liquid from said tank back into said jacket. v

4;. In a cooling system for internal coinbustion engines, the combination of a jacket having a'space; a condenser joined tosaid space; a tank joined tosaid condenser located below said space, and adapted to normallyretainliquid therein; a pipe leading from said tank to the top of said condenser; a vent pipe leading from the top of said condenser; and means for returning liquid from said tank to said jacket.

5. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination of a jacket; filling means for providing said jacket with a restricted spaceadapted to deliver liquid to a condenser at high temperatures; a condenser joined to said space; means for-'filling said jacket through the top of said condenser While the engine is hot; a tank joined to said condenser located below sald space and adapted to normally retain liquid therein; means to deliver condensed vapors from said condenser below the level of said liquid; a pump; connections between said pump and tank adapted to prime said pump; and connections from said pump to said jacket.

6. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines, comprising a jacket and a restricted steam space above said jacket,

the combination of a condenser connected to said steam space; means below the top of said condenser for filling said jacket; means for filling said jacket located above the top of saidcondenser; a connection from said condenser provided with a goose neck discharging into said jacket; a pump in said connect-ion for forcing liquid from said condenser through said goose neck; andan orifice in said goose neck to prevent the liquid from siphoning back into said pump when the engine is idle.

7. In an internal combustion engine the combination of a jacket having filling means for providing said jacket with such a restricted vapor space 'thata vapor will be adapted to conduct uncondensed vapors into said liquid. j

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' WELLINGTON W. MUIR. 

